Badly wounded hen! Need some advice please!

[mrshendrick]

oops, sorry.  Just reread your first posts.  Is this colloidal silver a liquid that is put in water?  I was thinking of silvadene ointment that is used on burns.  I'm not familiar with colloidal silver....don't mean to sound dumb...but what is it? 

Thank you for your reply - colloidal silver is a solution of very small, positively charged silver particles suspended in pure water. I use it for immune support for myself, and to treat cuts and scrapes in my kids. I've also effectively used it to treat pink eye in myself and my kids. It kills bacteria without destroying tissue, so I've been using it to rinse the wound clean every time I change the gauze.

I've got Epsom salts in the bathroom, so I'll use those this evening. She's staying indoors in a crate until her wound is scabbed over, then we will set her up in her own little coop outside until she's totally healed.

Thanks everyone, for the advice, and sorry for my earlier testiness. It breaks my heart to see my critters suffering and I kinda freaked out.

She does seem to be doing much better, but isn't eating and drinking as much as I'd like. I got her to eat some avocado when she wasn't interested in her pellets. I think I'll let her roam in the yard while I water tonight, that way she can get some sunshine, bugs, and fresh air. That should lift her spirits a little

 

[CherylR]

Thanks for the information on colloidal silver...I guess you learn something new everyday! Glad to hear your hen is doing better. I used a bit of canned cat food temporarily when one of my girls was badly injured and didn't want to eat very well...just a thought. Well, I hope that she continues to improve....keep us posted, if you would.

 

[midwayfarms]

My vet said to treat like you would a burn. My fav he was recently attacked also she had similar wounds to what you described. He gave some oral antibiotics to give her and salve to put on the wounds. He told me the biggest thing is the loss of fluid from the open wound and to make sure she had plenty of water. It has been almost a week and she is doing very good!

 

[mrshendrick]

My girl is still going strong - the scan on her sore looks really gross, but I'm keeping her on antibiotics and she's been moved to her own special recovery coop next to the chick house. Her appetite picked back up almost immediately when I moved her outside. She took a nice long dust bath then pecked around the yard before i cleaned her up and put her in her little sanctuary. She seems to be a happy bird. I'm just hoping that sore heals properly :-/

 

[mrshendrick]

*scab, not scan

 

[BeetleChick]

3 of our hens were attacked by our rooster almost 3 weeks ago (he killed one, needless to say he's gone too), 2 had pretty deep wounds, they look like completely different birds now eith all the new feathers coming in. Their spirit is amazing, i make sure they have plenty of fresh water and favorite treats every day. I'm sure your hen will be fine, just like our trio.